***Says Illegal Mining, Kidnapping Most Lucrative Business in the North
Demands Government to Release Report on Soldiers, Policemen Killed at Niger Mining Site
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State and former Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, has backed former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, over his recent comment alleging that retired and serving military generals are behind illegal mining in Nigeria, particularly in the North.
In a statement issued in Minna on Thursday titled “I am solidly behind Comrade Adams Oshiomole on illegal mining” and made available to journalists, Vatsa described Oshiomole’s remarks as “the honest and religious truth.”
He alleged that illegal mining activities are not only supported by retired military generals but also involve political elites and influential business figures.
Vatsa stated that illegal mining, which contributes nothing to Nigeria’s economy, is a major factor fueling insecurity in the North.
He accused political and traditional leaders, as well as the business class, of being fully aware of the situation but refusing to act.
“Nobody with a conscience and fear of God will fault Oshiomole over his comment on illegal mining. He just hit the nail on the head. This is something everyone knows but refuses to talk about,” Vatsa said.
The former APC Publicity Secretary criticized the government’s double standards in dealing with illegal resource exploitation. He lamented that while illegal mining thrives in the North, generating millions of dollars daily for private individuals without government interference, authorities continue to militarize the Niger Delta over oil bunkering.
“Gold is more expensive than crude oil in the international market today, yet the government has turned a blind eye to illegal gold mining, allowing individuals and their foreign collaborators to exploit the country’s resources unchecked,” he argued.
Vatsa asserted that the ongoing security crisis in the North is closely tied to illegal mining. According to him, criminal groups operate under the guise of banditry to mine gold and other minerals across the region.
“What is happening in the North is an economic war. People are using banditry as a cover to carry out illegal mining, and everyone knows this, but there is no political will to confront the situation,” he added.
The APC chieftain recalled the gruesome murder of 34 soldiers and eight mobile policemen at Ajata Aboki, Erena Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, in June 2022. The security personnel were killed while providing security at a mining site.
Vatsa questioned why the government and military authorities remained silent on the incident.
“Three years after this tragic event, no one has told Nigerians the truth about the killings. Who owns that mining site? Who ordered the deployment of soldiers and policemen there? Why has the government refused to release the findings of the investigation committee set up by the then-governor, Sani Bello?” he asked.
He described the silence surrounding the incident as a “national tragedy” and challenged the government to make the committee’s report public before dismissing Oshiomole’s claims.
“Our leaders know those behind illegal mining, but they are untouchable. If you go after them as a politician, they can make you lose an election. That is the unfortunate reality of our country today,” he lamented.
Vatsa warned that insecurity in the North would persist unless the government takes decisive action against illegal mining. He also alleged that bandits work in collaboration with illegal miners but choose to attack innocent farmers instead of disrupting mining operations.
“Until the government musters the courage to confront this issue, the security crisis will remain. Bandits avoid targeting illegal miners because they operate in synergy,” he stated.
He urged the government to prioritize national interest over personal and political gains, emphasizing that transparency and accountability in the mining sector are crucial to restoring peace in the region.
